Report: Dr Zita Lobo
Pics: Noel Castelino
Ras Al Khaimah, Sep 9: Nativity and harvest festival had a grand newness for the people of Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwwain this year. The newly harvested corn brought all the way from Mangalore was blessed in the presence of the infant Mary’s statue in the presence of the faithful gathered to celebrate ‘Monthi Fest’.
With great enthusiasm flowers were ‘thrown’ with the ‘Moreak Hogollsiam’ hymn reverberating the premises of the new St Anthony’s Church in Al Jazeera in Ras Al Khaimah. The procession headed by revered Fr Maxim Pinto, Asst. Parish Priest, RAK, Fr Abraham D’souza of Divine Retreat Centre, Mulky and Fr Rodson Gomes of St Michaeal’s, Sharjah, proceeded to the church.
Fr Maxim concelebrated mass with Fr Abraham and Fr Rodson in the new church.
A lively cultural programme was compered by Ryan Mathias. Games, competitions and spot prizes created a family atmosphere where all the oldest and the youngest participated and enjoyed. Alex Crasta and his wife Grace were felicitated on the occasion for their unrelenting interest and leadership in parish activities. Agnes Roche welcomed the guests and Laveena Castelino proposed the vote of thanks.
Fr Thomas Ambuzzukutty, and all the priests along with the people enjoyed the sumptuous vegetarian meals with the traditional curries, pathrode, alu-dento etc, was relished on the banana leaves. This tradition was kept by Noel Castelino as every year Venus Restaurant’s.
The Konkani Community’s Nativity celebration was the first mass of the parish in the newly consecrated St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church which was kept closed since consecration on June 14, due to lack of power. The church formally opened for regular services that day with a solemn Nativity Mass in English concelebrated by Revered Fr Varghese Chempoly, Vice Provincial of Capuchins, St Mary’s, Dubai, Fr Thomas Ampattukuzhy, Parish Priest of RAK, Fr Annie Xavier, Parish Priest of St Michael’s Church, Sharjah, Fr Maxim Pinto and Fr Felicio Diniz of St Michael’s Church, Sharjah.